FastNamesKorean Names and Surnames
Korean names belong to the Koreanic linguistic family, reflecting centuries of cultural evolution, geographic migration, and historical naming traditions.
Historical and linguistic background
Korean names follow a structured three-syllable format consisting of a single-syllable family surname followed by a two-syllable given name (e.g., Kim, Lee, Park). Surnames in Korea were historically adopted from Chinese characters (Hanja) during the Three Kingdoms period and the Goryeo Dynasty, initially restricted to aristocracy before expanding to the entire population under the Joseon Dynasty. A distinctive feature of Korean onomastics is the bon-gwan (ancestral clan seat), which distinguishes different genealogical lineages that share the same surname (such as the Jeonju Lee clan or Gyeongju Kim clan). Korean given names often incorporate a dollimja (generation name), a shared character assigned to all siblings or cousins of the same genealogical generation according to five-element cycles.
Naming traditions and patterns
Single-syllable hereditary surname followed by a two-syllable personal name, structured ancestral clan seats (bon-gwan), and generational characters (dollimja).
Published Korean first names
We are actively researching additional Korean given names. Detailed etymological dossiers will be published in upcoming catalog releases.
Published Korean surnames
| Surname | Meaning | Census Rank | US Bearers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kim | Korean patronymic and clan surname represented by the Hanja character 金, meaning 'gold', 'metal', or 'precious radiance'. | 77th | 262,352 |
| Lee | Topographic surname from Old English leah ('clearing', 'meadow', or 'woodland pasture'), or an Anglicization of Chinese Lǐ (李) and Korean Lee/Yi (이), meaning 'plum tree' or royal dynastic heritage. | 21st | 693,023 |
Scholarly references and sources
- Korean Names: History, Structure, and Social Meaning — Mark Peterson (2002), pp. 1-22.
- Dictionary of American Family Names — Patrick Hanks (2003), pp. 58-62.